Page 86 of Unspoken Obsession

I can barely breathe. This is too much. I want to scream and cry and run. But I am glued to the spot, and I can't tear my eyes away from them.

"Tell your men to back off," Dante says.

At first, my father just glares at him. But then, realizing he has no choice he waves his hand signaling for them to back down. They all lower their weapons and step back.

"Leave the guns on the ground," Dante says, and reluctantly they all drop their weapons and walk to their cars. "Drive away -- do not come back." He orders and my dad's loyal puppy-dogs listen.

We wait until his men are out of sight, and then Dante gets up, yanking my father to his feet by the collar of his shirt.

"Think about your options, old man," Dante says before releasing him.

My father turns to look at me.

He stares right into my soul, his gaze burning like fire in my skull. I refuse to look away, keeping my eyes steady and my face calm. I can't show fear at this point. I must hold on. Stay strong.

"You are going to regret this." He says. "Your boyfriend's empire will crumble; you will lose your son, and I will destroyyou both." He says. "I will always win Francesca. This is not over."

He climbs into his car, slamming the door so hard it rocks in protest. The engine starts, and he spins out of the parking area.

Dante's men stand ready with their guns aimed at the car until it is gone, only the dust left stirring in the air as they drive away from us.

Dante walks to me and pulls me into a hug. "That didn't go as well as I had hoped." he sighs.

"I don't think he cares about the evidence," I reply.

"Your father thinks he is untouchable. His ego is so big that he thinks the evidence won't harm him. But if he makes another move against you or Damion, he is going to find out that he's mistaken."

Tears of relief sting my eyes. I've never been in a situation like that before. I've never stood up to my father, not completely. He's always had some control and leverage to scare me into complying.

I'm realizing that I don't just dislike him - I hate him. I hate him for who he is and what he has put me through. I hate him for all the nasty things he has said and the cruel things he has done to me. I hate that he is threatening my child - my beautiful baby boy.

I hate him and I want him to learn that he can't get away with his crimes forever.

"I don't want to wait," I say, looking up at Dante.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want to wait for him to make a move." He will go after Damion. I know him. "I want you to take him down. I'm done. He had his chance, and he didn't take it. Let's move before he does damage control or hurts anyone else."

My father has proven himself to be a cruel and heartless monster. This situation is too dangerous, and I want to end it now -- before it's too late -- before I lose someone I love.

DANTE

Antonio and his men have driven away from the meeting place, and I stand, overwhelmed with rage, holding Frankie in my arms.

I am not a man who likes to react with rage. I prefer to hold it back and keep my emotions in check - but with Antonio, it is the hardest fucking thing to do. That man is a fucking asshole. I am so angry. I wanted to rip him to pieces. His ego is too big for his brain. He does not know who he is threatening when he threatens me. He has crossed the line now though.

I kept my cool - on the outside - but on the inside, I was burning anger. He has threatened my son - and the woman I love. He doesn't seem to care at all for his daughter, and I can see the pain in her eyes when I look at her.

When Frankie tells me she doesn't want to wait - that she wants to take him down now - I am so relieved, because now I don't have to convince her that there is no reasoning with her father. She knows.

She sees the logic in it. We need to strike first before he does something worse.

For the sake of my son, for the sake of Frankie, and for the sake of getting justice for my sister, Antonio Musetti must pay for what he has done.

I lead Frankie back to my car with my arm wrapped around her waist.

Holding the door open for her, she climbs inside, and I close it behind her. The situation is tense even though Antonio has left.

---